Philippines: poster shows how soldiers should behave

13-08-2012 News Release

Manila (ICRC) – On the occasion of International Humanitarian Law Day, the ICRC has presented the Armed Forces of the Philippines with a poster depicting the behaviour soldiers should adopt to comply with international humanitarian law.

The International Humanitarian Law Code of Conduct for Combatants poster, created by the ICRC and the armed forces' human rights office, was unveiled this morning at the flag-raising ceremony at Philippine armed forces general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo. About 2,500 copies of the poster have been given to the armed forces, which will distribute them within the army, navy and air force.

"This initiative will serve to constantly remind soldiers of the basic rules of international humanitarian law – to respect civilians and detainees, and to care for the wounded and the sick," said ICRC legal adviser Evecar Cruz-Ferrer. The distribution of the poster is part of a continuing effort to spread knowledge among military personnel of this body of law, which imposes limits, for humanitarian reasons, on the ways war may be waged.

The poster uses photographs and texts to show how combatants should treat civilians, the wounded and the sick, and detained enemies.

The head of the ICRC delegation in Manila, Pascal Mauchle, represented the humanitarian organization at the event, which commemorated the 63rd anniversary of the signing of the Geneva Conventions on 12 August 1949. International Humanitarian Law Day has been observed in the Philippines every year since 1999, when 12 August was designated as such through Executive Order 134.

The ICRC is a neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian organization that assists and protects victims of armed conflict. Under its international mandate, the ICRC reminds parties to conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law, and promotes the law among a wide range of audiences in the Philippines.